Analysis: Steaminess Rating

Exactly how steamy is this poem?

R

It may not look like it on the surface (heck, the only body parts the speaker mentions by name are the "eyes," the "heart," and the "face"), but Shakespeare’s poem is actually teeming with references to sex. Whether it be the outrageous punning in the phrases "over-partial" or "plague," or the equally (if not more) outrageous metaphors of quatrains 2 and 3, there’s no question that this sonnet is not for the delicate-natured. Don’t know what we’re talking about? We suggest you give the poem another read-through—and don’t forget to consult our "Detailed Summary" section, which should help you see the poem in all its obscene splendor.